Body-Checking vsBody-Contact

in Peewee Hockey

May/June, 2011

How Did This Discussion Start? • Squirt & Peewee practices @ ADM Regional Manager’s

Meeting – 12/09• “Risk of Injury Associated With Body Checking Among

Youth Ice Hockey Players” study by Dr. Carolyn Emery – 6/10

• Body-Checking sub-committee appointed by USAH’s Player Development Committee @ Annual Congress – 6/10

• World Hockey Summit in Toronto - 8/10• Mayo Clinic’s “Ice Hockey Summit: Action on Concussion”

– 10/10

Player Development Committee’s Body-Checking Sub-Committee

• Bill Hall – Chair• Roger Grillo• Al MacInnis• Bob Mancini• Mike Milbury• Jim Smith• Dr. Michael Stuart• Kevin McLaughlin

Two Primary Reasons For Discussion

#1 Reason - Player Development

Sports Science tells us that 9-12 yrs old is the ‘Optimal Window of Skill Acquisition’

• Two more years of hockey development• Two more years of cognitive development • Two more years of physical maturation

Two Primary Reasons for Discussion

#2 Reason - Player Safety/ Research Results“Among 11 - 12 yr old ice hockey players, playing in a

league in which body-checking is permitted compared with playing in a league in which body-checking is not permitted was associated with a 3-fold increased risk of all game-related injuries and the categories of concussion, severe injury, and severe concussion”.

From the research study by Carolyn Emery, ‘Risk of Injury Associated with Body Checking Among Youth Ice Hockey Players’

Playing Rule Proposal

• Introduce full, legal body-checking in Bantam games (instead of peewees)

Playing Rule Proposal

• Progressively increase body contact from Mites to Squirts to Peewees to Bantams

– Mites: Cross-ice = less space & more collisions

– Squirts: practices with more small area competitive games & stations; games with more body-contact

Playing Rule Proposal

• Progressively increase body contact from Mites to Squirts to Peewees to Bantams (cont.)

– Peewees: teach increased body- contact & full-body checking in practice & dry-land training (like earning driver’s permit & then your license)

• More coach education & player instruction– Coach education: age specific modules

Dr. Stephen Norris – Director of High Performance Programs for Sport Canada

Definition of Legal Body Contact

• “Contact that occurs between opponents during the normal process of playing the puck, provided there has been no overt hip, shoulder or arm contact to physically force the opponent off the puck.”

When A Penalty Should NOT Be Called

• Player establishes body position between the puck and the opponent using skating ability, balance or strength

• Player maintains his/her established skating lane

• Player angles the opponent into an opening too small

When A Penalty Should NOT Be Called

• When incidental contact occurs as a result of playing the puck

• A defensive player in front of his net may use his body position & strength to gain an advantageous body position on his opponent as long as he doesn’t use his arms or stick to create space or impede an opponents ability to move in a desired direction

Legal: Angling/ Bumping

Legal: D-Man Plays Puck-Carrier

Legal: Contact Along Boards

Legal: Net Front Play

When A Penalty Should Be Called

• Player intentionally plays the body with no intent to play the puck

• Player uses hips, shoulder or arms in a violent or intimidating manner to knock another player off their skates, run them over or intimidate

• Player leaves established skating lane to play the body instead of the puck

• Player ‘finishes the check’ after playing the puck

Illegal: No Attempt to Play Puck

Illegal: Net Front Play

Illegal: Finishing Your Check

Definition of Legal Body Contact

• “Contact that occurs between opponents during the normal process of playing the puck, provided there has been no overt hip, shoulder or arm contact to physically force the opponent off the puck.”

2 Primary Reasons For Discussion

#1 Reason - Player Development– Two more years to capitalize on the ‘Optimal

Window of Skill Acquisition’

#2 Reason - Player Safety/ Research Results– Severe injuries & severe concussions are 3

times more likely in checking leagues than non-checking leagues

The Mayo Clinic’s Concussion Symposium

• The 11 year old brain cannot anticipate being hit while trying to skate and carry the puck

• The 11 year old brain is more susceptible to suffering a concussion

• The 11 year old brain is more susceptible to long-term damage if it is concussed

Rule Proposal Objective

• Provide six years of coach education & quality player instruction (mite – peewee) to safely give and receive body-checks (like a driver’s permit) before we introduce full, legal body-checking in Bantam games

• Increase body contact in Mites, Squirts & Peewees

Training Coaches

• New CEP materials – On-line modules– Manuals

• Practice plans – – Drills– Small games

• Video clips• NARCE• Face to face meetings w/ Affiliates, Associations,

etc.• WHAT EVER IT TAKES!

Squirt Progression of Body Contact

Drills Throughout the Season

Warm-Up

Boards Protection

Leg Drive

Power Bumps

Parent Education

• USA Hockey Magazine• WWW.USAHOCKEY.COM• Podcast’s• Direct mail• Facebook• Twitter• E-mail blasts• Posters• Webinars• Face to face – w/ associations, etc.

Bi-fold Handout: Converted into two e-mail blasts to all USAH Members

It won’t be easy, but it’s the right thing to do

for player development & safety.

Thank You Very Much

For Helping Us Develop

MORE, Better Players!!!